Last month I photographed Ariel and Asher’s wedding at Congregation Kol Tikvah in Parkland, Fla.

I always think wedding are special. I cry at every single one of them. But this wedding in particular was very special to me for three reasons:

I grew up attending Congregation Kol Tikvah…I was Bat Mitzvah’d there when I was 13! Though the congregation is no longer located in a storefront shopping plaza on Wiles Road and now has a permanent home in Parkland, and I no longer attend services regularly, I still felt like I was at home.

Ariel is Rabbi Boxman’s oldest daughter. And Ariel is a rabbi, too. So I photographed a rabbi’s wedding. And that was cool.

I love the whole Boxman family. I bonded with Ariel’s mom, Linda, and Ariel’s sister, Talia, extremely quickly…it’s rare that you meet someone and feel like you’ve known them your whole life. But I felt this way when I met Linda and Talia. And I’ve found I quite like the rest of the Boxman family!

Ariel and Asher had actually gotten married in Israel, where Asher’s family lives. But they wanted to have a ceremony and reception here as well for their friends and family who couldn’t make the trip.

The day was full of spiritualness, happiness and laughter, and I was so happy to be a part of it.